Put Ned’s team out there. See what they can do. That way there won’t be any questions about his judgement and baseball acumen when he gets dismissed. If they thrive, well, good for you dude. We will be in the playoffs and happy.

Good to see Kemp out of there. Even if it does come at the expense of JP playing. Kemp just looked awful last night. I don’t know what the hell they should do with him. I know he’s still young, and at times looks awesome, but then looks totally lost on other occasions.

I know this will go over like a fart’ in church, but, if they are going to keep shuffling things around, send Kemp to AAA and let him play everyday and work on things. He’s still very young, 23 I think. Give DYoung some AB’s and when we are out of it in early July, bring Kemp back and go with the youth movement whole heartedly. Not what I really want to see, but, maybe the most constructive way to go about it given the circumstances at the present time.

Well at least I can say the Rockies didn’t get off to a fast start like the Diamond-Backs did.
They came back to earth after winning the pennant last year.
So if it is not a five team division race at the moment, it’s still a four team race for 2nd place.
Let’s hope Jimenez messes up enough for us to score enough runs for our 10th win of the season,
GO DODGERS!!!!!

It ain’t true. On April 11 and April 13, Torre started the same lineup (not counting the pitcher’s spot). Only 22 different batting orders in 23 games. Joe really knows how to inspire confidence in the kids.

I can’t believe we managed to find another manager as stupid as Grittle.

I never thought of Torre as a moron, until this year. I don’t think grittle was as bad as we thought. I think the current management is SOOOO bad that it’s making the field Managers look bad?? I have to believe that considering what Joe has accomplished in his career.

You gotta wonder how Frank got hooked into the G’Nat contingent. He could just have easily hooked into the Cleveland or Atlanta contingent. Hell, even the Red Sux. Anything would have been better than hitching your wagon to the G’nats way of doing things.

I don’t think he got hooked on it. I think he tried to find someone that had been in a baseball for a long time because he didnt know a damn thing about baseball. But he sure can build a pretty parking lot!!!

I really have to disagree with scurtis1999 and jhall about benching Kemp (and one suggested sending him down to play every day). He’s done everything you can do in the minors, and he’s not just a legitimate big league hitter–he’s a good one. He has looked bad in some at-bats, but what he needs is . . . at-bats. Experience with that slider, patience, and not the pressure that one bad day will mean he sits the next.
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And, if he’s struggling, why is the decision with him to bench him, but if Jones is struggling, Torre hits him second. Let Kemp hit second–I promise you he would produce.

pierre,
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It absolutely is Torre’s fault when he fails to start Matt Kemp every single day.
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I’m inclined to wonder if Toron is even aware of Kemp’s 07 stats:
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22 years old, 292 ABS, 100 Hits, .342 BA, .373 OBP, 10 HRs, 42 RBI, 10 Stolen Bases. All that while being shuffled all over the lineup.
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A bad month by Matt Kemp is better than the best month Juan Pierre will ever again have.

I don’t think Kemp thrives on indecision and inconsistancy. I think he would be better off playing everyday and working on his plate discipline.. It could be here or in AAA. Given that Ned has invested so much in the proven vets and I believe they will get more than a chance to show what they can do, Kemp is the odd man out. I don’t like it. Ned’s boys are going to play, say what you will. When/If they fail, Kemp is more than ready to step in.

Torre’s just mixing and matching every day IMO, with the veterens getting a little more preference as usually is the case.
Kemp might have been benched today even if he had a good day yesterday. He might’ve even known he was sitting.
I think it will all boiled down to who is more successful at this manuevering. The players who have the best offensive numbers will end up playing the most.
When LaRoche gets back I would imagine Nomar would get less playing time sharing it with LaRoche.
Whether this is good or bad only time will tell.

Like I stated earlier, I am ready to endure Furter’s lineup. If/when they fail, there will be no questions or debates. Put them out there and sink or swim. Either way, we’ll be happy. They perform and we make the playoffs, or they fail, and we clean house. I would just like it more cut and dried than this wishy washy bullcrap!!!

God am I sick of all the complaining. Have faith in our club and quit thinking every game without Kemp in the lineup is a give up game.

I have ZERO problem with Kemp sitting tonight. He cost us a run on another routine fly ball last night and K’d in a very crucial situation on a pitch that everyone in the park knew was coming. He has shown ZERO signs of learning from defensive mistakes since he came up and therefore he should sit IMO. Quit taking your talent for granted and work on something to get better.

Sorry pierre,
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Gotta disagree with you again. If the players who have the best offensive numbers got the most playing time, Matt Kemp would have played every game this season. His numbers both this year and last year are far better than Popgun Pierre’s.
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Based on offnesive performance, the only guy who could possibly sit in favor of Pierre is Andruw. And even given Andruw’s horrible performance thus far, he has only been margianlly worse than Pierre offensively.

It’s true that Kemp absolutely blew that fly ball last night and it cost us a run.
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On the other hand Pierre’s weak arm — and I’ll speak conservatively here — costs us at least one run for every six games he starts.
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For my part I don’t think that every game without Kemp is a “giveup” game. But I do think that for every ten games you start Pierre over Kemp, you lose a game. That adds up to about six games over the course of a season the way things are going so far. And that is certainly enought to get me up in arms.

First of all, martinloneykemp, you miss read my comment.
I said after all the manuvering is over, when that will be I don’t know.
That’s when the players who have the best stats will be starting. The way I see it.
Now everybody plays regardless of how they play.
Torre still hasn’t decided yet.

Torre has a three year contract, and his reputation earned him big bucks even when his old team didn’t want him anymore. So, he’ll take this year to get “acquainted” with the team. Next year he should really know what to do, unless Ned is still around and throws him another couple of curves, like another couple of veteran fill-ins whose best years peaked a few seasons back. Coming from the Giants, maybe Ned thinks that we’re still in the steroid era and he can reconstruct a few fading careers with the Balco pharmacy.

pierre,
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First, you gotta know that like probably every regular on this board I have a fondness and respect for you. I hope you get the chance to come out here this season. If you do, we should all make a night of it.
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Obviously, Torre hasn’t made up his mind about who will play yet. That indicates to me that Torre has not been paying any attention. To the best of my recollection, Torre did virtually nothing during the off-season to familiarize himself with the team. I don’t remember him meeting with any of the players. He seems to have entered the season almost completely unaware of the talent.
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Even a cursory look at Pierre’s stats compared to Kemp’s show conclusively that Kemp is far superior offensively. Pierre has one talent — speed. When a guy has that as his only talent, he better have an OBP better than .331, which is the highest OBP he’s had in the last three previous seasons.
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Kemp on the other hand is such an obvious budding superstar.
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To put it in perspective:
Juan Pierre = Luis Polonia (His most similar offensive player at baseball-reference.com)
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Matt Kemp = Dave Parker
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Would anybody in their right mind play Luis Polonia over Dave Parker?

Sorry to disagree Brooklyn. Ned decided the lineup. Phew, Nomore, Kent, and Nomore make $45M a year. They will play and be given the jobs. That is what they were signed for. To help the kids and get us to the playoffs. Now it is time to do it. Either they do or they don’t. Like I said earlier, if we’re in it in July, they did their jobs and great, if not, then we can move on.

Hey Josh!! I love the new HD cameras in the home plate area and pitchers mound. I saw the first shot of home last night, with Martin behind the plate with Chris Young batting… and my jaw dropped! Stunning shots and so much better than the old standard def ones. Kudos to whomever thought of the pitchers mound camera… those are some great shots!! Keep up the great work. And by the way, the sound levels are much better this week.

I can’t believe there’s talk of sending Kemp to AAA. Are you guys really suggesting that JP starts? Kemp is a major leaguer…and this wouldn’t be the first time Joe has helped a budding star develope. I think he knows what he’s doing.

No one is backing sending Kemp to AAA. I was merely suggesting that if they are going with Ned’s posse, perhaps Kemp would be better off in AAA getting AB’s and playing time everyday as I think it is better for him.

I tell you right now I wouldn’t want to be the manager of this team right now.
I think Torre has been delt a tough hand.
Most people should be glad he doesn’t start Pierre everyday.
The streak is over. He should be thanked for that.
But if you expect him to bench Pierre everyday, then you got a long summer ahead.
There are 4 regular outfielders. This is the Major leagues.
Both Jones & Pierre, regardless of how they they fit in–right now–are proven major leaguers and no matter what anybody says including myself, THEY WILL PLAY.

I personally think a lot of people have been spoiled by the D’Backs success with younger players.
That is very odd, and it won’t happen every year.
Some of you act like 30 years old is the end of a players career.
No Way, Regardless of the money they are making you won’t be seeing too many of these old pros retiring.

That’s sobering, jhall. Can you imagine being allotted $45 million to pick four players and coming up with those four. Only Ned could do that. Speaks for itself. Who wants to see him around for yet another year?

No, i’m not thinking that. I don’t want to see Park, Loiaza and Kuo fail their jobs. Now everyone knows Kersh is ready to pitch in the big leagues so demote Proctor and bring up Kersh, so you can put Kuo, Loiaza and Park in long relief and try Kersh in the 5th spot

I want the team TO WIN, I’m not rooting for players.
You KIDS, with your comments are ruining this blog.
It doesn’t matter how we win.
The D’backs made it with homegrown players. that doesn’t neccessarilly mean that is the only way to go.
I’m speaking with 61 years of experience.

Since it will be the first time in my life that I agree with a “priest”, I want to agree with bpriestley (5:38 above) in 2 ways:
I also am sick of all the complaining much of which consists of vile, ugly ad hominem attacks on Colletti, managers (last year and this), coaches, and players. (Not to be rude, but please look up ad hominem if you’re not sure what it means.) I started reading here looking for a better discussion than I had found on the dodgers.com message board. This place was better but no longer. (Which brings up something that has always bugged me- why are there 2 chat rooms? I urge everyone here who doesn’t have some specific question or comment for Josh to post over there or at least to double post).
Second bpriestley said he had no problem with Kemp sitting tonight (not forever) after missing a routine fly ball- to me Kemp looked like he was daydreaming and it’s perfectly reasonable to call him on it by sitting him for 1 game.

John McCain,Hillary Clinton, and Barak Obama were walking down a Washington D.C. street when they came upon a homeless person.

The Republican,John McCain, gave the homeless person his business card and told him to come to his office for a job. He then took $20 out of his pocket and gave it to the homless person.

Hillary was very impressed, so when they came upon another homeless person, she decided to help. She walked over to the homeless person and gave him directions to the welfare office. She then reached into John McCain’s pocket and got out $20. She kept $15 for her administrative fees and gave the homeless person $5.

When they came upon yet another homeless person, Barak told the homeless person to “have hope….change is coming…” and gave him nothing.

hate to break it all to you guys but once a player is optioned he cannot return for 10 days. I believe I read that somewhere… hopefully I am wrong but I remember something about 10 days. if this is true and nomore goes down for a while we dont have a 3rd baseman… should get interesting. and I just say of course you need scotch while watching this team.

Not really Eric. I root for the Cavs. But I really couldn’t care less. I hope the Lakers do well for all my west coast blogger friends. When I was a kid, I loved the Lakers and the LA Rams. Jerry West and Wilt. Deacon and the Fearsome Foursome.

“Giants outfielder Todd Linden was optioned down to the minors in three different seasons, as you can sort of tell from his professional record. Being sent down in 2003 didn’t count, though. Linden started the year with a minor-league contract in Fresno, and on August 17 he was placed on the 40-man roster for the first time and assigned to the major-league squad in San Francisco. On the 20th, Linden was optioned down, but he was recalled on the 21st and stayed with the major-league team for the rest of the year. “

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Surging Los Angeles Dodgers defeat Colorado Rockies 8-7. Superman, The Man Of Steel, Jeff Kent leads the way with Russel Martin, Matt Kemp and Rafael Furcal!. Japanese Connection of Hiroki Kuroda, Takashi Saito and Chan Ho Park were magnificent! And what can you say about Jonathan Broxton but Brilliant!All the rest of your Beloved Dodgers were amazing! This Los Angeles Dodger Team is destined for greatness and time will tell the wonderful story of this Amazing Team!

Imagine the good times a month down the road. Kershaw and Schmidt back in the rotation. Billingsley the bridge to Broxton. DeWitt plays every day. Kemp plays every day. Meloan (2-0, 1.66 era, 21.2 innings) in the pen.

They’re still talking about Nomar on FSN. Torre said it’s a calf muscle, the same injury as last year. Kevin Kennedy said that if Nomar goes on the DL, DeWitt can come right back. If there’s no DL, the 10 day rule that Dodge 16 remembered applies.

Billinsley as a seventh inning bridge is NOT a demotion. It’s a power play. Belcher was the closer for half a season in ’88 when Howell got dinged and it led to a title. If you get Kershaw and Schmidt back you have the luxury of a Billingsley to kitt butt every night.

nice win, though I must admit I was very concerned/puzzled that the team couldn’t move Pierre over to 2nd base in the bottom of the ninth.

he couldn’t straight steal, Hu’s bunting was terrible and the hit and run didn’t work. same thing with Furcal when he was on first.
this is our two best/fastest runners and we couldn’t pull it off in (practically) a must -win situation against a division rival.

also, i thought the d-backs had a tough young lineup. yikes, facing the rockies is really, really tough with the sticks they have. pray, that they don’t catch fire again anytime soon!

finally, why not just release sweeny and make d. young the true pinch hiter. at least he will have a defined role and we can bring up another utility IF.

Got up this morning to see the extra inning win, which is great, but Saito’s performance is now really suspect. Wouldn’t be surprised if Brox becomes the closer before the season is over. Nomar going back on DL is not a surprise, as jungar and some others had anticipated several days ago. Don’t really want to root for any Dodger going on the DL, but I never thought Nomar would be any kind of contributor for us this season, so I’m hoping he doesn’t come back anymore as a regular third baseman. I think he’s just plain worn out even though you’d think it’s not possible at such an early age. So, good bye and Nomore!
I’m also wishing that they would now pull the plug on Sweeney. I think his good years are all behind him, and it’s not just a poor start to this season. Being a veteran, Ned will no doubt want to give him every chance to come back, and I say what for. Good bye, Sweeney – just another ex-Giant whose only usefulness can be found in somebody like Ned.
I think Ned will be gone at the end of this season, and it will only be two years too late, as far as I’m concerned.
Otherwise, GO DODGERS and let’s put up the kind of fight we’ve at least seen in the last couple of games.

I had meant to comment on the ambitious Dodger Stadium plans described by McCourt. I don’t expect to be able to visit Dodger Stadium again in my lifetime, and I’m not sure how much the planned improvements will benefit the average occasional fan/visitor to the stadium. What impresses me most is that McCourt is showing himself to be a major real estate developer, which is not surprising, and his plans will essentially create a theme park or commercial addition to the stadium with probable future plans for more development in the area. I wonder whether the real estate potential was behind his purchase of the team franchise all along. Now, there’s nothing wrong with that at all as long as the fans are treated as they deserve. From the recent poll conducted concerning fan experiences, the Dodgers are far behind from that perspective.

My concern will always be how the ownership and their plans relate to the Dodgers’ play on the field. I’m concerned about the extent of baseball knowledge within the Dodger organization. I’ve no problem with Mrs. McCourt having the showcase position of president of the team, but there ought to be somebody on board who has the knowledge, the planning ability, and the fortitude to produce a consistent and winning team on the field for many years to come. Ned clearly is not that person, and adding Torre was a nice touch, but meaningless in terms of planning 3-5 years ahead. We all know that Logan White is great in terms of judging baseball talent, and I’ve always been in the forefront of wanting him as the GM even as we speak. I don’t know whether he has the breadth of being the planner and the doer that I think is necessary for the team in the long run. If not, McCourt should really concentrate in the next year or so on finding a knowledgeable team president that can pull all of the player performance and planning aspects together.

Sorry for the long discussion, but I’m left unimpressed with the real estate development plans unless I can see as much effort put into building and maintaining a championship team called the Dodgers.

kahliforni – it wasn’t a 1/2 season as a closer for Tim Belcher (no way with his 27 starts), he had 3 saves and 1 blown save for Jay Howell from late June to the All-Star break, about two weeks, when Howell was DLed. Belcher was so effective as a starter down the stretch that he got post-seasons starts ahead of Tim Leary who had been the #2 most of the season with a 2.91 ERA, but was tiring.
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Personally, I never want to see Billingsley in the bullpen ever again. Good starters are hard to find and that is Billingsley’s past, present and future. Remember, if Billingsley is in the pen, you get more starts from the likes of Tomko and Hendrickson, er, Loaiza, Park and a recovering Schmidt. More importantly, Billingsley needs to work and continue to develop as a starter because Lowe will be gone next season. (Boras will want more years for Derek than the Dodgers will be willing to give. I’d guess the demand will be five, and more than three is likely foolish.)

Bear, good discussion of what the Dodgers need at the top end. We’ve got a great farm system, but need some better minds at the MLB level to make sure that the team is consistently competitive and playoff bound.

My question about Nomar – if you build your muscles through use of the juice, then stop using the juice – does that cause an inability for the body to cure injuries using just regular physical therapy and no juice?

Great win last night…I tried to stay up but lost the battle in the 7th just as Wade was coming on. It sounds as if it was a real thriller. NOt surprised Nomar is on the DL again, Ned wake up and just release him. Nothing against Nomar, a hell of a ballplayer in his day, but that day was about 4-5 years ago.

No need to continue with the chirade…cut him loose! Dewitt will be fine and Laroche will be back soon. One of these guys will take over 3B and we will have our best since Beltre…He never should have left but that is a discussion for another day!

Kershaw seems as if he is primed, it is a matter of time and the phenom will be here. I just hope we get some consistency out of this team…lets run off 5-6 wins in a row and get some momentum!!!!

I really do not like to see people infer steroids about a player…I for one try not to get caught up in it, we do not know who or who did not use the Roids and we should not insinuate about it!!!

fogey, I stand corrected on the duration of Belcher’s time as closer. But as for Billingsley, I’m talking short term…maybe from the All Star break on. Here’s why: IF, and granted, it’s a big IF, Schmidt and Kershaw can start, then you have a power pitcher who can blow people away (witness his strikeouts the past two starts) but also a guy who struggles, at least for now, when hitters see him the second or third time in a game. Dodgers NEED someone to hand the ball to Broxton in the eighth…heck, maybe even the ninth if Saito continues to struggle. Kuroda becomes your number 5 starter, Loiza goes away, and Billingsley goes back to starting when Lowe, via Boras, says bye bye next year. Who’s the bridge now? Proctor? That sound like a championship? Lord have mercy…

What a game!!
However…
Watching Penny pitch always brings up memories of Paul DePodesta. That trade (LaDuca, Mota, and Encarnocion for Penny and Choi) looks better and better everyday. Couple that with Jayson Werth having a great begining to this year…
I won’t say it, BUT….
I’m not saying I wish Paul back in LA, I’m just saying it wasn’t as bad of a trade than I just thought.
Speaking of trades…I was looking at Milton Bradley’s stats today (for Texas), Ethier’s better in every catagory. Anyone think Oakland wants a do over on that one?

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